Tristan’s POV
Elona and I arrived back at our houses this morning. I decided to head to work late. I wanted to take my time and be the boss that deserves to have time for himself. The little trip was good for myself and Elona. We relaxed and had sex most of the night. Elona was exhausted and that was because of me. But I enjoyed our time together.
I scrolled through some emails in the lounge before going to the office. There was still nothing about the hacker, but my team had secured everything that could happen like that again. There was a frantic knock on the front door. Looking up from my phone, my brows furrowed.
“What the hell?” I muttered to myself as I shoved my phone into my pants pocket, walking to the front door. “If you don’t ease down, this door might just break,” I hissed as I opened the door.
My eyes widened as Eric stood in front of me, tears running down his face, he was bruised up. He ended up sobbing as he nearly fell to the ground. I caught him just in time, holding him close to me. He grabbed a fist full of my black suit jacket. I sat down on the ground with him, just holding him. He was sobbing this ugly cry and it broke my heart.
Tears welled in my eyes and I blinked them away. “It’s okay. I’m here.” I said to him as I moved his hair to the back. I placed a little kiss on the top of his head, as if he was my own son in need of love and care. “I’m right here,” I tried to soothe him. “You’re safe here.” His sobs began to subside, but he remained in my arms as if he was afraid to let go. So, I allowed him to stay in my arms.
I wanted him to feel safe here. I was not going to allow some ash^le to do this to him. I may have been an ass to him at the beginning, but this is something that made me change towards him too. A lone tear ran down my cheek as my heart broke into a million pieces for him. Not just the abuse that he has to endure from his father, but from myself too. I know that he has forgiven me for it and, in this way, I can help him. I wiped that tear away.
He slowly pulled out of my arms, “I’m sorry,” he said as he wiped his tears away from the back of his hands. “I didn’t mean to show up like this unannounced.” he sniffled.
“Eric, you did the right thing by showing up here. My door is always open for you. You are lucky that I’m still at home. I do think that you should go to the hospital to get checked-”
“Please, Tristan. I cannot go, they will call my father. He won’t like that at all,” he begged me with fear in his eyes.
“You don’t deserve this. You need to be checked, and you can stay here for as long as you like.”
“I can’t. My father will expect me to be at home,” he responded.
“I will not take no for an answer. You will stay here. I will take off from work today so that I can be here for you. Does Cris know about any of this?” I asked.
He shook his head, no, “She doesn’t know.”
“She will find out sooner or later. Trust me, she is a good detective. Come on, let’s get inside before anyone else sees us this way.” I stood up and held my hand out for him, and he placed his hand in mine and I helped him get up.
He stepped inside, and I closed the door behind him. “You may sit on the sofa, I will get you something to eat,” I said.
“I’m not hungry,” he took a seat on the sofa.
“You need to eat something. Are you in any pain?” I asked as I moved further into the lounge, closer to him.
“I am a little bit,” he said, hugging himself.
“Let me guess, you have pain over there,” I stated and he just nodded his head. “Well, you need to get checked out.” I said before going to the kitchen to get some painkillers and water for him.
I need to have a nice word with his father. I cannot delay this. That man should know who he is dealing with. I will not let anything happen to Eric on my watch. I went back to the lounge with the painkillers and a glass of water, placing it on the coffee table. I sat on the recliner across from him, watching as he took the glass of water and painkillers.
“Thanks,” he said as he leaned forward with a wince, placing the glass on the coffee table. He got comfortable on the sofa again.
“So, what happened this time?” I asked.
“I didn’t hear him call me for breakfast this morning because I had earphones in my ears and the music was on full blast. He barged into my bedroom as I got ready for school, and then he beat me up. I cannot go to school every time he does this to me. People will see what he does to me and then some of them might even make fun of me. I just cannot live like this anymore. I pray so much that this year can go by fast so that I can move out,” tears welled up in his eyes. This just shattered me all over again, but I wouldn’t allow him to see that side of me. I had to be strong.
“You can stay here. I mean that. I will not allow you to go back home. But I need you to go with me to your house tonight so that I can have a word with your father and I don’t give a d^mn what he says. I can report him. You have this place and a girlfriend who cares about you. So, do this for yourself and for her. There are only a few months left until you graduate, so stay here,” I stated, hoping that he would agree to this.
“I will go with you. If things don’t go your way, and I get beaten up again, it is on you,” he said. He really didn’t want me to go to his house to confront his father or for things to get worse. But this needs to happen.
“Fine, I will take full responsibility for that. As long as I know that you’re safe here in my house.” Eric’s pain echoed in the silence of the lounge. His eyes were a mix of hurt and yearning, and my heart couldn’t ignore the desperate plea for understanding. It was a moment when life demanded more from me, and I knew I had to give it.
“Eric, I may be an ass, but I can also be a father,” my voice carrying a weight I hadn’t realized was there until now. “A father’s love isn’t measured in power or dominance. It’s not about control, it’s about protection. It’s about being a steady force in the storm, a guiding light even when the path is unclear.”
I held his gaze, trying to convey the sincerity that filled my words. “A father should be a sanctuary, a place where you find solace and unconditional acceptance. It’s a love that doesn’t demand perfection but embraces flaws. No matter what mistakes you make, a father’s love should stand unwavering.” Eric’s eyes flickered with a mix of emotions, and I could see the vulnerability etched across his face.
“You don’t deserve to be treated like this,” I continued, “A father should lift you up, not bring you down. He should be your biggest supporter, and your loudest cheerleader.”
I felt the weight of my own experiences, the ache of losing my wife, and the struggle of being a single parent seeping into my words. “I can’t change what happened to you, but I can be here for you now. You don’t have to face it alone.”
As I spoke, I saw a flicker of understanding in Eric’s eyes, a realization that perhaps there was another way, another kind of love that he deserved.
“Love should never hurt. It should be a balm to the wounds, a force that heals, not inflicts pain. You are worthy of that kind of love, and if your father can’t give it, then I will. Consider me your sanctuary, your steady force, your protector.”
I let the words linger in the air, hoping they would settle in Eric’s heart. In that vulnerable moment, I revealed a part of myself that I had shielded for so long. It was a fatherly love, raw and honest, a love that aimed to heal wounds and build bridges to a brighter future.
You can get some sleep in Cris’s bedroom. I’m sure she will be surprised to see you here, and I think you should tell her because she will find out.”
“Thanks, I will deal with Cris when I am ready. I appreciate what you said. It means a lot,” he forced a smile as he stood up, and then he walked away down the hallway.
I remained seated in the recliner, thinking about his situation. It’s funny how things have changed based on circumstances. My heart was still aching for him. He doesn’t deserve this at all, and I will put a stop to it and save him from this. His father won’t know what had hit him when I go and have that word with him.